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MR. STANKOVIC: SOUTH SERBIA IS NEGLECTED

15. November 2012.

Source: Serbian Broadcasting Corporation / Mr. Stankovic reiterated that almost all companies from South Serbia operated with large losses, as well as that the unemployment rate in Presevo was 56 percent, in Medvedja 47 percent and in Bujanovac 43 percent.

BELGRADE – The President of the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, Zoran Stankovic, said this morning that South Serbia was a neglected territory and that the biggest problem of the  people living there was a high unemployment rate.

Mr. Stankovic reiterated that almost all companies from South Serbia operated with large losses, as well as that the unemployment rate in Presevo was 56 percent, in Medvedja 47 percent and in Bujanovac 43 percent. 

"Because of such a picture, we are tasked with taking specific measures to solve the problem, which could be solved by beginning to make investments in that environment ", Mr. Stankovic pointed out.

He said that the competition for subsidies to small and medium-sized enterprises from the region had just finished. The budget of the competition was 40 million dinars, while the maximum financial resources allocated to Bujanovac are 17 million dinars, 15 million dinars to Presevo and eight million dinars to Medvedja.

" In addition, a contract on awarding scholarships to 231 secondary school students was concluded.  Thanks to a donation of the British Embassy, ​​310 Albanians should start learning Serbian, and we are also planning  to resolve the problem of the construction of the Faculty of Economics in Bujanovac ,as well as the issue of the Faculties of Law and Economics in Medvedja", Mr. Stankovic said.  

Asked whether there was any fear that Serbia could remain without that part of its territory, Mr. Stankovic said that there was no reason for such concern.

" I think there is no reason to fear that Serbia will lose that part of its territory, but we need to learn lessons from the past events from the former Yugoslavia", he said.

The President of the Coordination Body emphasized that the problem of false asylum- seekers from that territory was caused by economic problems and that he would ask the international community to assist with the economic sphere, so that those people could stay and work in their home towns. Mr. Stankovic said that the return of 4,800 people, who had gone to Western Europe, was expected and that our country assumed an obligation for them to return. When asked which was harder, to be the Minister of Health or the President of the Coordination Body, Mr. Stankovic said that the most difficult position in the country was that of the Minister of Health. 

" Everyone expects to get full health care, whereas a great many legal entities don’t pay for health insurance. The health system is in a difficult situation and it needs help", Mr. Stankovis said.